Someone told me last night was a playoff game…sure didn’t feel like it. There was zero urgency, emotion and feeling from last night’s game from really either team, but especially the Kings. As we said on the recap last night, there were no fights, no big hits, few scrums after the whistles, no intensity. I’m not saying a playoff game HAS to have fights or dangerous hits, but it should have some sense of the reality at hand, that at Wednesday night, around 10:00 at the very latest, one of these two teams’ seasons will be over.

The Kings got through more or less unscathed from last night’s game in terms of injuries. Jordan Paddock left the game in the 3rd period after getting a bang-bang hit along the wing boards from the Fitzgeralds, but will play tonight. This means the lineup is likely to be more or less the same, although as always with playoff hockey, that’s subject to change up until the last minute with very little notice.

Victoria took advantages of some good bounces on the first two goals, then created their own opportunities and continued to punish any mistake from the Kings in order to take game 1 by a 5-2 score. They’ll look to hold onto home-ice advantage tonight by taking a win and having 3 chances at advancing to the Island Final series.

The only question mark for the Grizzlies becomes Pearce Eviston who left the game late in the 3rd after a hit along the boards. With the score 5-2 and less than a minute remaining, he didn’t return, nor was he needed to return, so it’s tough to gauge the severity of whatever injury he may have.

There shouldn’t be too many changes for Victoria tonight in a tame contest for both teams. The one change will be Jaden Schmeisser rejoining the lineup after his 1-game suspension. I would assume AP Brandon Egli makes way for him.

On tonight’s show, we’ll have a special live Powell River hockey alumni guest. He’s currently a scout in the NHL and took in last night’s game between the two teams. In the 2nd intermission, the alumni theme continues with 2 1/2 year King Steven Schmidt, currently at Queen’s University in Ontario.

Finally, Derek Bachynski will join us after 60 or so minutes to talk about the game.